In May 1612, Vincent de Paul took up the position of Parish Priest of Clichy, a small town of some 600 people, just to the northwest of Paris. Though he spent only a little over a year in residence in this Parish, he remained the Parish Priest of Clichy officially until 1626.  It was at Clichy that he first came in contact with the ordinary people of the countryside, and experienced their religious faith. From the Parish of Clichy, he moved to live with the de Gondi family in Paris, to tutor their sons, and act as chaplain to the family. Mme de Gondi (Marguerite de Silly) became an important figure in Vincent's life, and later was instrumental in causing him to set up the Congregation of the Mission..

A remnant of the parish Church of Vincent's time now forms a part of the present day Church at Clichy, which has become a suburb of Paris.

More details about Clichy can be found on the Famvin Site's Virtual Tour of Vincent's Paris which contains material provided by Fr John Rybolt CM.